So
the question is why would we spend $40 million to get to ENR if we can
achieve it with the fully funded $10 million denitrification system? The
justification seems to be in the argument that we need to plan for the
future and that there is a possibility we will not be able to
accommodate all of the anticipated growth past 2035.

Why
pay $40 million now when we are not anticipated to reach capacity until
2035 to 2040? Why would we pay $40 million when treatment plant
upgrades are usually funded through hookup costs? We are putting the
cart before the horse in making the current users bear the costs for the
MBR System which is reflected in the water sewer customer increases of
4% for 3 years in the proposed FY 2014 budget. These increases will not
cover the cost which means the rest of the tax payers will have to pay
either through increased taxes or taking from fund balance.

Another
factor we should keep in mind is that environmental regulations do
change and we may have to upgrade to another system in the future even
before we utilize the benefit of the MBR System.

Why
would we commit to an expensive system when there will probably be
newer and cheaper technology to select from in the future? Just a few of
the revolutionary new technologies which are significantly reducing the
cost and operations of WWTPs include Biomag as well as a new product developed by Lockheed Martin, desalination graphene filters which won the Nobel Prize in 2010.

Why
are we anticipating that the growth will happen on the west end of the
county and not the east? If the demand is located in the eastern area
and we've already invested a substantial amount of our financial
resources into Seneca Point, it would limit our ability to be
responsive.

I
propose that we go through with the denitrification system for now
because it’s already been funded and approved by MDE and in the distant
future when we get closer to our WWTP capacity, conduct pilot tests and
comparison studies to base our ultimate selection on.

With
limited resources, investments should be strategic. Our priority
should be to close up the infrastructure gap on the growth corridor
which would attract new businesses and in turn helps fund upgrades to
our treatment plants. How many times do we need to make the same
mistakes?

Council Financial Disclosure Statements

Follow by Email

Pageviews

About Me

Experienced Leadership:
- Vice President of the BOCC
- Founding Member & President of the 21st Century Republican Club
- Founding Member & Vice President of the Cecil Land Use Alliance
- Elected two terms to the Republican Central Committee and served as Vice Chairman
- State of MD Republican Woman of the Year (2002)
- Appointed to the 2010 Comprehenisve Plan Committee
- Chairman of the Elected School Board Ballot Initiative